Interface-spawned NiSe quantum dots: preparation, photoluminescence properties and applications

We report herein the first interfacial synthesis of photoluminescent NiSe QDs and their evolution towards excitation-dependent multicolour hybrid QDs after solvothermal treatment. We demonstrate that tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP), a very commonly used ligand for the synthesis of QDs, would pyrolyze and generate fluorescent carbon dots (CDs), which is responsible for the asymmetrical and bimodal emission of QDs but has been neglected before. Also described is the application of these QDs for multicolour fluorescent patterns with high uniformity.